Study Search

Hey folks, here is a little song I made to help remember what to do for the eye assessment. Hope you like it. The lyrics are below. Melody attributed to Great Big Sea. 

I’ve got some eyes in my face and I like to look all around me

Looking near and far and at all the colours around me... oh ee oh...

Well through the visual fields I go

It’s like a bubble where ever I go it’s not so bad....

AND I’ll say way hey hey

Don’t forget to check those fields of gaze

and include the corneal light reflexes.....

at the end of the exam, make sure to cover and uncover the eyes....

ooohoohhh

In these beautiful eyes, there’s so much to look at...

There’s the lacrimal apparatus, the sclera, the iris....oooohoooh

The conjunctiva, pupil and lens

Cornea, anterior chamber and eyelid it’s not so big....

and I’ll say way hey hey

Don’t forget to check those fields of gaze 

and include the corneal light reflex...

at the end of the exam, make sure to cover up

AND I’LL SAY WAY HEY HEY 

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK THOSE FIELDS OF GAZE

AND INCLUDE THE CORNEAL LIGHT REFLEX

AT THE END OF THE EXAM, MAKE SURE TO COVER AND UNCOVER THE EYES. 

Sometimes it's hard to get motivated to study. In the midst of textbooks, classes, and assignments, it becomes hard to motivate ourselves for the goal. That goal that seems so abstract and at times even impossible to achieve sometimes.

I find it helps to listen or watch something that inspires us. Something that reminds of what we want to achieve, what we want to become, and who we would be proud to be. 

I think Carl Sagan does a good job of this. Listen and watch the Sagan Series and I think you'll be reminded of why we do what we do. 

Carl Sagan is known for his work in space, but I think his words can be applied to much much more. 

Finally back to doing regular updates! The morning of this week brought me to the corner of Parc and Milton where a 24hr Second Cup resides. Now if you’ve looked at some of my past reviews of Second Cups you’ll probably have noticed that they can be hit or misses. Well, I can happily say that this Second Cup is as good as a successful double raise take out in curling (If this is a foreign language to you, check out this link).

Generally the issue I’ve had with Second Cups is the amount of desk space that is available, I’ve found that too often circular tables with 2 feet of diameter are the most common tables, and as it turns out, they are terrible for studying. 

The tables here though are exceptional.

  There are several long column tables with several chairs that allow for a lot of space without looking like you’re stealing space from someone else. In addition, they also have the standard 2x2 square tables which can be good depending on your needs, and if you’re just looking to sit back and read a bit, they also have comfortable lounge chairs that you can relax in. So desk space as it were is not in short supply. 

On an addition note of comfort, I was sitting on a high stool at the column table and it was actually very comfortable. The café had installed a step for your feet so that your legs don’t get tired from having to support their own weight as they hand off the edge of the chair. 

Lots of students means lots of plugs

  There are a lot of outlets here. As soon as I walked in I noticed that there were a lot of people working on laptops and they were all plugged in. There were clearly a number of duos who were working on assignments together, and for the demand that was there, SC met with good supply. If you come here intending to do a marathon of essay writing, then you shouldn’t have any issues with finding a plug-in.

But what about the internet?

  Good question! This issue seems to be up to debate, there is a free signal, but I wasn’t able to use for access to the internet. I was using an iPad though so it may be that a laptop user might have an easier time. As it was, I had no internet access, but I’m pretty sure I was supposed to. 

Foursquare tips? (They’re back!)

  Try the financier here!

  - Best dessert ever! Get the apple square, have it heated on their grill and if you feel like it ask for whipped cream. It’s like heaven on a plate!

  - Nice place to study using the free internet and drinking a moka.

  - Internet completely sucks

  - The internet is a little tricky sometimes but it figured it out before you connect make sure your browser is closed. Only open it once you’ve established the connection. Works for me. 

    But really...is the cake a lie?

  Actually it’s not a lie! The benevolent (or is it malevolent) overlords of SC have decided grace this SC with fairly good employees. When I arrived there was an issue with their debit/credit machines and the server was laughing and joking in what might normally be a fairly stressful situation. Good service on both interaction and delivery of orders. I wonder if this always happens when technology breaks down. Oh well, I’m sure GLADOS it will be still be alive tomorrow.

So how do I get there!?!?!

  If you don’t mind walking 10 minutes, you’ll be able to reach this Second Cup very easily. Exit Place des Arts Metro and head north on Bleury until it changes into Parc. Continue on and it will be on your left. 

But I’m hungry and I don’t want to burn my wallet to eat at a Coffee shop! 

  Ok, ok, calm down Timmy, calm down Beth, if you want to go eat, you can walk 5 more minutes North on Parc and you’ll find several decent fast food outlets that should fill you up quite nicely. Personally for myself, I’m a big fan of Pita Pit, I can never find them in Montreal though they seem to be everywhere in Ontario. They make a great wrap with a lot of toppings for a decent price. Plus you can give yourself a pat on the back for eating a delicious, filling and healthy meal!

If you like exercise...

  If you are among some of the students who feel they that healthy body also yields a healthy mind, there is a nearby gym that caters to many students. La Cite is inside Cinema du Parc and they have a large roster of McGill students that already attend. 

The downside?

The internet as mentioned is a little touch and go, and if you're downtown, it's a little bit out of the way. 

Would I go back?

Absolutely! This is a great spot. Comfortable, great hours, close to good food, and lots of space. 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 9/10 Stars! 

(minus 1 because of the iffy internet, so close though!!)

So I'm slowly catching up on my posts, I have a bunch of places to review, but I've been so caught up in life obstacles, that I generally end up getting home so tired that all I can think of is my bed. 

But enough of that!  Onto the review

When I initially walked by this cafe, it looked so unattractive that I didn't even want to go in. At a brief glance from the outside, it looks like there are only small tables accompanied by uncomfortable high chairs. Nonetheless, I found myself near Union Street after running some errands and decided that I might as well take a look into the interior. 

I'm very glad I did. 

First off, in terms of space this is like the Taj Mahal of coffee shops. There is tons of room with several different types of chairs and tables to choose from. You can be sitting at a high table with a group of friends, going  on a date at one of the 2-person bench seats, or you can even lounge at the big screen tv section at the back. 

Looking around for the best spot to set myself up in, I decided to saddle myself up to one of the window tables that spans the entire length of the cafe. I had plenty of room for my books, and also had plugs that I could use that were easily accessible. I was actually really comfortable which surprised me. To date, this is the first cafe that I've been too that quite comfortable chairs at their windows, and not high chairs that eventually wear out your legs. So in terms of comfort, this Java U. passed with flying colours, and I'm sure if I tried out a comfy lounge chair I would have been out like a light. 

Moving on from ergodynamics, the service was quite quick and  pleasant. I ordered a tea and wrap, and while I do recall that I wrote in the past that I try to avoid purchasing food at coffee places, in this case I was just hungry and wanted to get started. As it was, I was down about 10 dollars after tax, so as usual, watch out for coffee shop food prices. 

Alas, while space, comfort, and electricity were all available, there was one gross oversight;

no internet. 

I think it's gotten to the point now where this really should just be an expectation. Nearly every place I've been to has internet, if you don't have it, you're falling behind. I think the only reason they get away with it is that the McGill wifi signal still reaches them, so I assume students just log into that while they're here. As for the rest of us though, you'll be stuck either tethering, or going offline. Personally, I'm starting to really more and more on Dropbox, so having internet is becoming more key to my studying habits. Alas internet I knew you well, but you are absent from this walled shelter. 

Aside from this though, this particular Java U has a pretty good set up. It has a nice atmosphere, a good ambiance, and with the proximity of many other students, it's very acceptable and approachable with regards to spending hours of your time there studying.

 The only other complaint I would have is that their music was at just the wrong volume where I couldn't make it white noise and so I had to plug myself into my own music to drown it out. 

All in all, even without the internet, I'd give this cafe:

★★★★★★★★ 8/10 stars 

 Would I go back?

So I'm terribly sorry that I haven't been able to update until now. You've all been very patient, so here is my first of 3 updates!

THE CAFE LONDON BUS

So Cafe London Bus is tucked away across from the Westmount Square, right off the corner of St. Catherine and Wood avenue. 

Initially it looks like a restaurant from the outside, and the menu of homemade sandwiches, chilli and stews makes it seem even more so. That being said, it definitely has the cafe feel to it. Lots of tables with assorted seats, nice window light, and many many hot beverages!

  Cafe London had several good things going for it:

Internet (Sans pay wall!!)

Personable service from the owner who addressed no few customers by their first name.

Not very crowded and as a result quiet and no worries about taking up a table. 

Good food that comes with that homemade feel to it. 

The downsides?

Some of the tables are really not sized for more than a textbook. However, since not many people seem to frequent the area, you can get away with more using two at a time.

The chairs were decent, but if you're like me  you like to move you legs around while you're sitting, and the design of the chairs doesn't allow you to tuck you legs underneath. You wouldn't think that this would be a big issue, but when your legs are feeling stiff or cramped, it can make a big difference. I suspect that people with larger and taller frames might have issue here. 

This was a downside for me, but it might be an upside for others; there was a fairly long jazz history documentary going on while I was studying and it was rather irritating. I ended up plugging myself into my ipod to keep myself from being distracted. 

It's rather peculiar, reading what I've written here, I would think that Cafe London Bus would be a smashing hit! As it is, I would certainly go back there, but I haven't quite warmed to the place just yet. It doesn't have that special charisma that just draws you in. 

WOULD I GO BACK? YES

★★★★★★★☆ 7.5/10 stars 

Hey folks, I know I said I'd be doing updates last week but I've been pretty sick for the past several days so I've mostly been studying at home. I'm trying to get out of the house this week though so if you have any recommendations please let  me know!!

Hey folks! No updates for the next week as I'm taking off and will be travelling over the next week. If I notice any unique study experiences I"ll let you know, but for those of you who have it, enjoy March Break!

So I came upon this little nestle of a corner when I was getting a lunch not too long ago. I was looking around for a bathroom when I saw this alcove that was tuck away beneath the escalators. What was so special about this spot? I’m glad you asked!

Let’s see, at first glance nothing special...but wait a second....are those electrical plugs for every single table? Also...there are 3 tables and 6 chairs for each section...not too many people...not too loud but not in a silent din....hmmmm....

So I tucked away this little nugget at the back of my mind and I came back today to see how it would hold up to some biology review. 

I’m rather pleased to say that it turned out to be a very nice spot! Even during the lunch rush there weren’t too many people since there were so many other tables available and not many people would see this alcove in the first place. It’s tucked away around a corner and beneath a stairwell so you’re actually assured a relative amount of privacy. 

With three full tables to work with I was swimming in more space than I could take up, it was a lavish experience and I would almost feel guilty if I knew that no one was losing a table because of me. 

THE GOOD! :)

1) Electrical plugs at every table space (absolute gold, you can see them immediately, and you probably won’t have to fight to keep your laptop from dying out).

2) Spacious tables and multiple chairs make this an ideal solo or group study spot. 

3) Private: few people come to this hidden oasis, you’ll be able to mostly avoid the crowds and extreme noise you might get at most food courts. 

4) FOOD! I love food, and while you can’t really afford take out every day, it’s certainly convenient to have a selection of foods right at your fingertips when your tummy lets you know it’s time to take a study break. 

5) Internet, you won’t find free internet here, but I did notice that Valentines has a WIFI access  point here and when you select it, you’re sent to a login page asking for a card pin number. I suspect they provide service to clients who are willing to pay a few dollars for access. I haven’t tried it yet, but next time I go by I’ll let you know. 

6) Lots of stalls in the bathrooms, you shouldn’t have to wait very long for one to open up.

THE BAD :(

1) Privacy also means that if you leave to get food or beverage you can’t keep on eye on your materials. If you want to go get something and you’re on your own, you’ll have to pack everything up and bring it with you. This also means you run the risk of losing your seat while you’re gone. But let’s be clear, this isn’t a place you want to leave your things unattended. 

2) As an underground food court you won’t be getting any natural light, in addition to that, the alcove may feel a bit too unclosed for some people. 

3) No free internet access that so many other study spots have. 

4) The café depot that gave me a tea has water so hot that it nearly scalded my hand through the cup. Those with delicate pallets should approach with caution. 

5) Lots of distraction since you’re in the middle of a mall, since you don’t see most of it, you’re better off, but if you have a problem with impulse purchases this is probably the worst place to be. 

6) Cost; being around so much fast food might entice you to always buy it, quickly burning a 300$ a month hole in your pocket if you purchase a meal a day here.  

THE OBSCURE BUT PROVOCATIVE. :S

Lots of opportunities for people watching if you want to take a break. There are hundreds of people who pass through here in a given day and each has their own story. It can be a good way to pass the time while you try to decipher it. 

All in all I’d say that this is a golden find. But it really shines when you get a group together. Not only will you be able to leave your stuff whether you’re answering natures call or getting some food, but you’ll also have each other to keep on target and not be distracted by the many shiny new toys you could purchase. 

Would I go back? YES

★★★★★★★★ 8/10 Stars (+1 if you’re in a group)

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Hey folks! So I haven't forgotten that I promised you all a bonus review and so here it is!

Today I'll be reviewing the Dawson College library which I visited last Friday.

Now, Dawson shares many features with Concordia; it has internet for students, it has many comfortable chairs and reasonable space for books, it has private study rooms and tables, and....(sigh)...it also won't allow you to bring in food. BUT! Even more preposterous they won't even allow you to bring in anything BUT WATER! Ok, once again, I recognize that you don't want your books to be ruined, and you don't want to attract bugs or fester bacteria if a juice box spills, but the fact that you won't allow a student to have coffee or tea in your library simply shows that you're not thinking of the student. In addition, where the Concordia library is large enough that you can sneak a bite of food, in Dawson they actually have staff wandering the hallways to tell you to leave if you're found eating. 

Alas, if it were only this, Dawson would still get a mediocre mark. However, there are more travesties to come. 

1) I don't know what it is about that particular library, but something about the air or atmosphere simply drains your energy. Every single time I've tried it out I've fallen asleep. After speaking with other students, they also assure me that they also feel very tired when they go into that library, more so than if they were to study elsewhere. 

2) The library closes before 6pm....that is all.

3) I had a number three, but I fell asleep before I could write it down.

Anyway, I think you can clearly tell that I'm not found of the Dawson Library.

Would I go back?

NO.

It's only redeeming qualities are that it has good spaces to study with electrical plugs and is pretty quite for those who like that.

So I was originally going to review the McGill library....well, that is until I realized how they have more libraries than any one school has any right to have. More than a half dozen and that’s only within one block. I tentatively checked out the Redpath library, but after I sat down, the silence from the other students was so oppressive that I felt that if I coughed I would receive glares. 

Anyway, I decided to leave after I became too anxious to focus. 

After refreshing with a good book, a nice lunch, I wandered past a new Van Houtte that I hadn’t noticed before. I decided to take a look and was really quite pleasantly surprised. 

As I ordered my tea from 3 very nice little old ladies I parked myself on the upper tier that overlooked the rest of the café and proceeded to have quite a pleasant 5 hour study session. 

First off, while they did have the typical 2x2 tables, the upper tier was nearly permanently empty and so I was able to spread all my paraphernalia without having to feel guilty. 

I think what I enjoyed most were the following factors:

1) Quiet, but not too quiet, there was still music, and there were no signs telling me that I wasn’t allowed to wear a “walkman type device”.

2) Nice bright interior with a ton of window space. No flickering lights that might give some people a headache. 

3) Comfortable ikea chairs at just the right height that I didn’t get a back or neck-ache even after 5 hours of studying organic chemistry and calculus. 

4) 15% discount on food after 1500 makes typically inflated coffee shop prices actually reasonable. 

There were of course some unfortunate features;

1) They did have internet, but it was behind a paywall. 3$ for 30 minutes. Pretty exorbitant to be honest, and I probably won’t go there again in the future if I ever want to use the internet. 

2) Only 3 plugs were present throughout the entire establishment. NOT a good sign if this place becomes more popular. 

3) Bathrooms are in another part of the building which involves going around 3 corners, paying the troll toll, and by-passing 2 deadbolts. 

4) Not enough room for groups, it's really best for solos.

Now, what about that x-factor? That general overall how did it feel to be there feeling?

I’d give it a B+, a very decent feeling that led to a very nice and productive study session. 

All in all, I have to unfortunately rush this review a bit as it’s now 1am and I have to get up early again tomorrow. Hopefully you’ll forgive me and accept a slightly higher number of photos!

★★★★★★★ 7/10 stars

Check out my new twitter account!

So today was espionage day. Over the past few weeks I’ve done a number of reviews of coffee shops in search of the best place to study. None of these places however are deliberately designed to accommodate someone who actually wants to study. They have many features that a student may find attractive, such as internet, caffeine, a place to sit for hours and hours on end without being considered a layabout, but largely they aren’t designed for students unless a student has only a laptop or single book to read, in that case coffee shops have certainly marketed directly to the right people. 

Now, you may disagree with me on this, after all, coffee shops must know that students are a large part of their client base, and I’m sure they do. But if a student wants to do some serious studying, research, or creative work, there simply isn’t enough table space. If there is, it generally involves two tables. As it is, 2x2 feet tables can handle a basic amount, but if you’re reference more than 2 books, you’re in trouble. 

So how do libraries compare? Specifically, higher education libraries? You would think that they must cater specifically to the student, and so they must have the best service right?

Let’s find out!

So I started my investigation with the Concordia Library that’s downtown at 1400 De Maisonneuve. Now, technically I could be kicked out of here since I don’t actually have I.D. but this applies to any particular university library that I’m not a part of. Thankfully, most students have certain elements to their look that can make them interchangeable between higher education students. 

1) Backpack full of any of the following: Books that you would never read if you didn’t have to, ipod/iphone, laptop, random cheap snacks, notebooks, conglomerate of forgotten receipts, post-its, and/or incomplete homework assignments.  (Check!)

2) Glazed eyes from a lack of sleep. (Check!)

3) Hot beverage mug/thermos/cup in hand. (Check!) 

5) Dressed either in a fashion that shows you just got out of bed, or that you never intend to work in an office. (Check!)

These may be stereotypes, but the useful deal when it comes to stereotypes is that a lot of people believe them, making them perfect for immersing myself into their midst.

OK I know I’ve gone on several tangents by now, onto the review!

Concordia library has several good elements, but a few poor ones as well. 

THE GOOD

a) Large tables everywhere to accommodate even the most scattered student who may be studying biology, art history, and physics. 

b) Quiet spots (Blue zones) and pseudo quiet spots (Orange zones) for anyones preference; however, there is no “loud” area. No matter where you are you are supposed to at least put your phone on vibrate and whisper. 

c) Comfy chairs; nice and cushioned with good back-support offers hours and hours of comfortable support while you lean over your notes/books/laptop/whatever else you’re working on. 

d) Atmosphere; it really helps to be surrounded by people who are doing the same thing as you. The fact that you’re in a spot that is designated for academic pursuits means that everyone around you shares the same motivations and drive(Even if it’s a “OMG my test is tomorrow!” motivation). It encourages you to continue working. 

e) Knowledge: So obviously, one thing that libraries have is book upon books upon books. They have a treasure trove of knowledge in their shelves and if you’re looking for a specific reference, or looking to research something, libraries are the specialized institutions. Don’t get me wrong, the internet is an even better trove, but for finding reliable, specific information with someone to help you along the way? I still think libraries hold out as the winner. 

f) A great place to group study when you have so much space to work with.

THE BAD

a) No food; this is perhaps my greatest peeve, I’m one of those enviable few who constantly eats but never gets fat. On that same note I constantly eat because I’m constantly hungry. I generally can’t go 2 hours without feeling my stomach start to grumble. So when I’m choosing a place to study, it’s incredibly infuriating to be told that I have to go outside if I want to eat, which means I have to pack up all my stuff, stop what I was working on, put everything on hold to go down 3 flights of stairs so that I can go outside and eat the apple that I had in my backpack. I understand that you don’t want to library to get dirty, that the smell of food can be distracting or that you don’t want books to be ruined, but telling a student they can’t eat while they study is just foolish. A point that was reinforced when I saw a lot of people around me snacking in-spite of the signs in front of them saying “No eating”. This is a definite negative. 

Eating with subterfuge. 

b) No internet: Since I’m not a student, I cannot access their internet unless I use someone else’s code. It wouldn’t be too difficult to attain one, but as it is, it’s a barrier and I instead tethered my iphone to access the net. I grant that since I haven’t paid tuition fees I shouldn’t necessarily get access to their services....but couldn’t I at least get a temporary guest pass? In addition, Foursquare tips tells me that “The internet never works here, and it’s impossible to find a plug if you need one.” ...so perhaps some areas of this library aren’t as good as others. 

c) Apparently... Plugs can be a little tough to come by.  Also according to Foursquare “This places needs more outlets and power bars”, I personally didn’t have a huge issues, but I agree that I didn’t see that there were enough to accommodate. 

THE WILD CARDS

a) A library to students is a bit like a commons in that several students feel like they should enjoy all of the privileges but none of the responsibilities while here. Sometimes you’ll end up being near very courteous and kind students such as the two women who offered me a share of their dairy milk chocolate, but other times you’ll end up near an obnoxious loud mouth who won’t turn down their computer or their voice. Now, thankfully you can just get library staff to fix this, but it’s worth a note that the norms inside a higher education library are slightly different from pubic space norms. It’s rare that you’d encounter a problem, but it happens on occasion. 

b) 24/7 service all day and all night. You can come to the library whenever you want....if you’re a student here. Once the late night hours start to role by, they start to ask for your ID if you want to enter the building. Great if you got it, bad if you don’t. 

All in all the Concordia library does a good job except for the afore mentioned issues. I think this is a great place, but the fact that you choose to keep me from my food, and that I have to hide it makes me give you only ....

★★★★★★★7/10 Stars 

Those who know me may be surprised it’s not lower, knowing how much I like food. But since I was able to eat food here (covertly) then they didn’t lose as much as they could. Had I actually been forced to leave it would have been much lower. 

If I were a student here, with the extra perks and bonuses of 24/7 service and internet access, I’d give them a grudging...

★★★★★★★★★ 9/10 Stars

Ok, so first off, I think this is the very first study spot that I’ve been to that can boast about the presence of it’s chandeliers. Seriously. I have at this very moment a chandelier hanging over my head, and while yes I have thought about the many ways in which a person risks their life when standing beneath a chandelier, I’ve taken the risk in favour of an honest review(no set of lights is going to scare me off!).

I walked in around 1000am and the café was pretty empty at that time. The service was quite nice although I had to repeat several times that I wanted my tea for here before they realized that I didn’t want a paper cup. 

So the first thing you might notice is that after the eccentric light choices is that there is another venue that shares the interior of the space. It is (depending on your perspective) the bane and saviour of so many students...sushi. 

Yes, this café depot has a sushi shop in the same floor space as itself. Consequently, if you’re hungry, you can walk over, buy some sushi, and get right back to studying without even putting your coat on. This is great for continuity in studying, not so great for your wallet though. My hats off to the two venues though, it’s a very smart set-up. Nearly every student I know loves/needs caffeine, and there are no few who also don’t love sushi. 

Moving on I was initially a little wary of the workspaces provided. The tables were a couple of inches smaller than 2x2 feet, and there wasn’t much room for more than 2 text books. That being said, there are are enough tables that if you come with a group, you could probably make a good multi-table study space.  

All was not lost though, I noticed that there was a very long window side table/ledge lined with chairs along an entire wall that was facing large bay windows. I was initially reluctant to try it out as I had attempted these placements before and didn’t really enjoy them, but it had the most space so I gave it a shot. Surprisingly enough it worked out quite well. All along the ledge there are outlets hiding underneath, providing ample access for power, especially if you add that every primary column (x4) in the café also has two plugs in it. It’s also very nice to be able to just look outside and enjoy the natural light. I didn’t mind the high chairs, but after a few hours I realized that because I was against a wall I couldn’t stretch my knees, forcing me to migrate to the smaller island tables. 

Now, when I walked in, and after the first initial two hours, I was rather fond of café depot. Decent space, nice lighting, food, oh and before I forget -free internet- but after those 2 hours things started to decline a little bit. 

1) As I mentioned, my knees started to really get stiff, up to the point where they were distracting me from studying. What’s really unfortunate about this is that I had to give up the best workspace for personal comfort. 

2) Cafe Depot was empty when I started, but it became very popular right after 1230, and it stayed that way for at least the next three hours until I left. This isn’t bad in and of itself, but since the tables were so close to each other, If was able to over hear 3 conversations quite easily. There was one table with friends exchanging relationship advice (one of them compared dating to marketing...methinks a business or communications student is in our midst), and another table was talking about how their life had changed since they had kids. It was a little distracting and I couldn’t quite make it into white noise, so I had to plug myself into my ipod to help out. 

3) Maybe it was sitting on the high chair in front of the window for so long, maybe it was a poor nights sleep, but I developed this very distracting crick in my neck that I just couldn’t get rid of. I really can’t specify where it came from, but it developed while I was here and so I assume it had to do with my sitting position. As a result, the whole study period was less enjoyable.

Because of all these aftertastes of the Cafe Depot experience, I’ve lowered my initial judgement. 

Would I come back? No

  ★★★★★★★☆ 6.5/10 Stars

It may be great for some, as I said it was very popular and I saw several students studying here, but a combination of factors results in this study spot being subpar compared to others. 

Hey everyone! You’ll only be getting 2 reviews this week unfortunately. I was finally able to find some time to study this week, but I’m only able to put together two reviews for you. I’ll try and make it up to you next week by putting out four (4!!!!!) new reviews. I plan on visiting some libraries next week as well (because why should coffee shops have all the fun?) so I can look forward to a nice amount of studying, and you can look forward to some (hopefully) good reviews. 

With that being said let’s move on to this weeks second review. Today I got up nice and early and worked my way over to another Presse Cafe, but this time near Concordia University instead of McGill. Right next to the Guy/Concordia St. Mathieu metro exit, this café is just barely far enough away from the main intersection of Guy/Maisonneuve that it isn’t hit by the massive bustle and hustle that plagues that corner. It doesn’t have quite the same amount of room as it’s predecessor, but it still have a pretty good amount of room. In addition, it also has some nice opportunities for group work; there are 2 larger circle tables that can comfortably accommodate 2 people, and in middle of the establishment there are two long tables that can hold 6 people each with decent elbow room. A word of warning though that if you do sit at the middle, you won’t be close to any outlets. 

Thankfully the internet didn’t die a painful black knight death on me while I was here. It did require a passcode (which was provided by the employees), but it worked reliably through the 5 hours that I was here. It certainly came in handy as I was researching alternative explanations for how molecular orbital hybridization works. 

Walking away from the Presse Cafe a few things stick out in my mind

1) Not many people

The place was never full which was nice from my perspective. I always prefer a slightly quieter area where I don’t feel like I’m competing for space nor do I have to put in my earplugs to ignore the conversation about Justin Biebers death in CSI. There was a comfortable medium of people coming in and out with a cute well-behaved schnauzer dog to mix up the group. Even though we weren’t right in the middle of the rush crowd, I was pleasantly surprised by the low volume.    

2) Good Ambient music

Something I’ve noticed is that if I’m reading something, I prefer to not hear music with lyrics. Whereas if I’m working on an assignment or problem solving I prefer music with lyrics. In this case I was doing a mix of both, but PC provided me with a nice constant dose of ambient music. If you prefer this style of background noise because you might get distracted by lyrics or don’t want to be bothered by the months top 40 hits, then you may enjoy this location. 

3) Roomy

High ceiling, lots of windows with a ton of natural light, white walls with a dash of wood flooring gives a very open feel which I appreciate and love. In addition, even though they have a lot of windows, the temperature was quite comfortable and the double doors at the front prevented any cold drafts from freezing my hands or feet. 

4) Computers   

The first location in my search that actually provides computer use for customers. There are two computers set aside that clients that park themselves on if they need to. I’m pleased to see this because while we don’t all have laptops/iphones/ipads/blackberries/androids/etc... I do think we should all have access to technology and all the utility it has to offer, especially the internet.

5) Potato salad

I was hungry and I didn’t want to leave, so sue me. 

.....the potato salad was pretty good though. Not epic, but pretty good....that is all. 

So all in all I was quite pleased, if I were to have any complaints it would be the lack of outlets near the island tables, the presences of only 1 bathroom (wasn’t a problem though since there weren’t many people) and the fact that when I ask the employee what their “classic sandwiches” were, they didn’t have the faintest idea. Interestingly, the classic sandwich is advertised as being the lowest cost sandwich there, but all they had on display where their premium “Presswiches”. I wasn’t too impressed when she said she had no idea, and didn’t seem particularly inclined to find out. As a result, if you did want a sandwich, you were forced to buy the more expensive one. 

Despite that, I would definitely come back here and I’ll give them a solid 8/10 stars. They’re almost at 9, but they didn’t particularly wow me with anything. As I said though, still a solid 8.

On a side note, I'm thinking of making a more categorical method for rating study spots, suggestions?

Ah! My apologies for being a little late in my latest entry. I try to study every day Monday through Friday, but these past couple of days have been pretty hectic and I haven’t been able to get out the house to review a new place for studying. 

Thankfully though I was able to finish errands early this morning and I was able to get out and check out a Presse Cafe that caught my attention earlier last week. I tell you right now, I am very happy with Presse Cafe except for 1 feature that came up several times throughout my stay here. I’ll get to that later though. 

So I walked in off of Sherbrooke street and was greeted with an incredibly expansive area. This place has not 1, not 2, but 3 floors that you can choose from!!! Most of their tables have 2x2 feet of space and they have a few 4x4 tables that you also use. I arrived around 1330 half expecting it to be fairly crowded but I was actually pleasantly surprised. From 1330-1700 there was hardly anyone there. I’m not sure if it was because it’s unpopular or that because they are adjacent to a McGill Dorm that they have a hard time competing. In any case, there was no competition for room or space.

So here I am looking around for a spot to sit and I’m scanning the low walls to see where the plugs are and low and behold the management has helped me out by placing signs that point to where the plugs are.

I especially liked that they put extra outlets to accommodate the many (absent?) people who would be using laptops in their establishment. Especially pleased at being accommodated without even asking I sat myself down and put them to the real test; they may have a lot of floor space and convenient signs, but can they handle.....ORGANIC CHEMISTRY???

I know, I know, it might be a little unfair to bring in the big guns when I haven’t done the same for all my reviews, but what I can I say, you get what the dice rolls. 

So is what they had to deal with; Organic Chemistry textbook; 1220+pages, Solutions Manual; 915 pages, notebook; 200 pages, and finally; a 13 inch Macbook laptop. As you can see,  succeeded with room to spare. I admit, it did require that I take up 2 tables, but like I said, the entire time I was here there was never more than 3 other people in the café. 

So while I luxuriously spread out my texts and electronics, I sat down on their ikea-eske chairs and remained comfortable for the almost 4 hours that I was there. They were quite comfortable and I had plenty of leg room to work with. Excellent height for my arms while I was typing up this review and I didn’t feel any stress in my neck and back while I was working through my texts.

In terms of the ambiance, the feel, the je-ne-sais-quoi, the Presse Cafe had a pretty good feel to it. The music didn’t sound like what you normally have from the radio but it had a pretty standard set up of rock music. It was decent music choice but I eventually became rather tired of it so switched over to my ipod and listened to some Mumford and Sons along with Zoe Keating.  Lots of light, some mirrors and the easy to see upper and lower floors gives it a nice feel. I do think that if I had gone to the lower floor I might have feel a little closed in, but it might be perfect for that person who prefers the quiet secluded corner to study.   

Now, there are many things that I like about this particular Presse Cafe, but to be honest, there was one facet that progressively annoyed me: the internet. 

Walking in, you have a sign that says free internet for all customers who enter, and this is true! They give you a passcode on your receipt and you have internet access for the entire time you’re there. 

Well...let me clarify that. You have access to their wifi signal the entire time you’re there. Their internet however is very very spotty. It stopped working several times while I was here and if I were doing any consistent work on the net I simply would not have been able to accomplish it, I’m not exaggerating when I say that it was utterly terrible internet service. It was inconsistent, unreliable, and even after letting them know, there was no long lasting solution. So, with that being said, if you want/need the internet while you study here, don’t count on it. Perhaps that explains why there were so few people here. Maybe they have better service other days, but alas, I’m not here writing this review on other days. 

Everything else is pretty standard, sandwiches and wraps are around 7 dollars. They’re tasty but you can get more food for buck if you go to a dedicated food outlet. If you like a little bit of kick to your studying they also serve several forms of alcohol from beers, wines, to vodka. Want a breakfast meal? They have those too. If you’re looking to have a marathon study session this would be a good place to come to. 

I should make one more note. If you like to have a STUDY GROUP (very useful), then I would recommend this location over any other so far. It has the most room to bring several people together and has something to eat or drink for nearly everyone. Vegans might have some trouble, but I’m pretty sure they would accommodate.  

 So would I come back here? A tentative Yes but only if I didn’t need or want to use the internet.

I wasn't originally planning on coming to this coffee shop. I was going to check out a Presse Cafe near McGill since I had already done a few shops around Stanley St. As things went though, between a meeting, an impromptu advice session, and running into friends, I ended up so close that I figured I might as well stay and check it out. 

I've been in here a few times over the past few years and I've always generally enjoyed myself. Like many stores on St. Catherine, it has a short face and a deep interior(think rectangle). One particular difference that I like about this SC though is the variety of seating options that you can take that would work well for a student.

You can:

a) Take a comfy seat with slightly low lying table (good for single text reading).

b) Take a back of the hall cushioned bench and set yourself up on a table where you'll have room for your laptop and mug.

c) Take a "standard" table 2x2 table which conveniently has another table right next to it for a nice spread of room (careful though, the tables are not always even and so they might wobble on you)

or...

d) My personal favorite is a set of (4?) long tables that are set up in the middle of the cafe that have stools on either side of them. There is plenty of room to put multiple books, a laptop, AND a beverage. In addition, each one has an outlet right next to it that you can plug into. The added benefit of these tables is that not many people choose them since most people don't want to sit on stools when they're having coffee and relaxing. You do trade back support for room, but I was so engrossed in my studying that I stopped noticing.

So like I said, plenty of options to match your personal preference. 

Now, maybe it's just a coincidence, but this has been the second cafe in a row that I've been to that has been cold. It wasn't as cold as the Starbucks in my previous entry. But I had to keep putting on a jacket because my arms kept getting cold.

A few other nice points:

1) While Second cup does have free internet if you sign up with an account, I found a wonderful "linksys" to sign up on that didn't require any account. I didn't even realize it until someone asked me half way through how to log on.

2) I want to make a point about SC hot chocolates. Firstly I love the first half, it is as delicious and chocolaty as it should be, but even with stirring it constantly, the second half is consistently too sweet. I don't generally make comment abouts beverages, but you're starting to ruin my hot chocolate experience.

3) This is a very popular location, almost always with people in it. Not good if you're looking for silence, excellent if you work better with white noise around you. 

4) Bilingual service with good staff, I have no complaints to speak of. They were constantly taking orders, cleaning tables for new clients, and making sure that you were served. 

5) Location is pretty good, if you're looking for fast food, the Scotiabank Paramount food court is only a couple of blocks away. If you're looking for a healthier dish, There's a wonderful lebanese place right at the corner where you can order a "healthy Plate" which will give you 3 salads, a meat option, and some pita bread that will leave you more than full, and for those meat eaters there's a Mister Steer close by as well. 

6) I'm thinking of including a drowsiness factor; there are some places that just drain your energy when you sit in them. Maybe it's the air, the water, or the general atmosphere, but some of these places are death traps for a student. With all that build up, I'm happy to anti-climatically say that this SC did not do that. 

7) Electricity! There are multiple plugs throughout, you won't have to worry about finding energy for your electronics. 

Ultimately I was rather pleased with this SC. Far better than some of it's predecessors. It didn't WOW me, but I was able to get a nice amount of studying done there. 

The Good: free Internet; good variety of places to sit; decent space.

The Bad: Crowded, loud, and a little chilly from a constant draft. 

The Curious: A locked gate keeps you from the bathrooms. If you desire the key to breach the barrier, you make your appeal at the counter. Your fate is in the baristas hands now.